How to clean Silver Coins?

Silver coins are the most valuable products for decades. Since the age of coins, these coins are one of the oldest ones. During the Greek era, these coins are used for trading purposes. Not only this, but the ancient Persians also used these coins, and even silver was used for making British pennies.

And in the 21st century, silver coins are the antiques of our ancient history. We still use these coins for doing any kind of holy work or to bless someone. However, the silver coins' value depends on several factors, such as its demand, condition, the number that is minted on it, and the rarity.

Although silver coins are the most durable product. With age, they might also tend to tarnish. Though this won't create any effect on the metal silver, it might affect your coin's value if you want to sell them. Any silver coin without luster decreases its value.

As a result, they might be counted as old coins. Now the dealer of the buyer will not want to pay or get the exact value of the product. Hence, the proper maintenance of these silver coins is much needed. Only a proper cleaning you can maintain the gloss of the coin, thereby providing the look of a new silver coin.

Most antiques, ancient coins, jewellery, showpieces or silver bars may appear black due to the process of oxidisation. The black layer is, mainly, formed from hydrogen sulphide that is the coating formed on the outer layer of the metal. Grey white metal may oxidize faster in conditions where there is a lot of light and higher humidity.

There are many other things which can cause fast tarnishing like air pollution or the presence of minerals in the water or keeping the items in contact with water, chemicals etc.

Studies find microscopically the process of tarnishing starts immediately as the metal comes in contact with the environment and it can happen immediately after the process of cleaning as the item is being exposed to air but the change may not be apparent right away as it shows after some weeks. The tarnishing can appear as black powder or brownish patina or grey, and sometimes, it appears as a pinkish brown coat.

Many such tarnished items can get back the original shine but not all types of tarnishes can be removed easily. People use different methods to clean silver bars like polishes, dips, cleaners, chemicals, baking soda etc. People may own not only coins but fine dining sets, cutlery, glasses and other items made up of the metal, which can be cleaned using the baking soda method.

What is silver?

Silver is considered as one of the most precious metals for decades. Among many other elements, silver is one of the best ones to be used in producing coins, jewelry, photography, electronics, etc. One of the best features it has is the highest electrical conductivity of any metal, and hence, it is considered the most precious substance.

Most religions and cultures consider silver to be lucky for traditional ceremonies. Even some of them prefer wearing silver jewelry on any special occasion.

Silver is a metal that delivers a soft and shiny look. With time, if any compounds of sulfur come in contact with this metal, silver may tarnish, forming a blackish look. As silver is the best reflector of visible light, it is used for making mirrors as well.

Photography is a recent trend these days. To produce high-quality images, the silver salts are used to prevent any sort of illegal copying action. Besides, many other silver benefits prove that it is one of the most important substances available.

How to clean Silver coins without damaging them?

If you have a silver coin for a long time in your house, then the first step before cleaning the coin is to determine whether it still has any value or not. In case you are not able to determine the value, then take the coin to any businessperson strictly before you begin the cleaning method. However, cleaning silver coins is no rocket science.

There are just a few things that you would require to consider so that no damage is caused to the silver coins. While purchasing a silver coin, the dealer will already warn you about not using any harsh chemicals on the coin. Using harsh chemicals will affect the luster of the silver coins giving a dull look. Even some scratches might appear on the surface of the coin.

There are various cleaning options for a silver coin so that the tarnish and dirt can be easily removed. Some of the easiest cleaning processes are by using distilled water, paper towel, mild dish soap, plastic container. Now, have a look at the process.

• Take a container and fill it with hot water. Now, add some drops of mild dish soap. Do not use detergent. And because tap water contains chlorine adding that might result in discolorization of the silver coins. Therefore, use distilled water. Now, submerge the old coins in the container. Let them soak in the soapy water for a few hours. Later you can check that all the dirt is removed well.

• In case the coins you have are dump, dirty, and then soak them in the soapy water each day. Add fresh every day and let them soak until they are completely clean. You can also take a soft brush for scrubbing the coins. Later, rinse the coins with running water and check the look it provides.

How to clean old silver coins?

Old silver coins are delicate and require proper care and maintenance. If you are eager to clean your silver coins correctly here are few steps that you can follow.

Use ketchup

To clean old coins, take a small amount of tomato ketchup and apply it on the back and face of the coin. Grasp the coin by the side edges and scrub it gently with any soft brush. As there is the presence of vinegar and salt, the tomato ketchup will work amazingly for removing the tarnish from the coin.

Clean with baking soda

Start this process by placing the coin under distilled water. Now hold the coin firmly, and with the help of your fingers rub the coin with baking soda on both sides. Doing so will help to remove the blackish part of the coin. Later, rinse the coin and pat it dry with a cloth.

Use Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most effective cleaning ingredients used by most people. It works amazingly on the ancient silver coins as well. To clean, you will need a cup of vinegar. Now, place the old coin at the bottom of the container. Let it soak for some minutes. Now, take it out and clean it in distilled water to see the difference.?

How to clean silver coins without losing value?

Until and unless there is any scratches leftover on your silver coin, it does not get devalued. With time, it is quite natural that your coins might get attracted to the dirt, grime, tarnish. All you need to do is take proper care and maintain them well.

Cleaning is the best process for maintaining the luster of your silver coin. Here are some ways that you can obey to clean the coins without losing its value.

Clean with Iodized table salt and fabric softener

• Take an aluminum foil to Line a container

• Spread the Fabric Softener Liquid along with the Iodized Salt into the foil.

• Add the coins that you want to clean

• Next, add some hot water so that the silver coins are covered fully

• Let it rest for five minutes

• Wear gloves that are covered with latex and then remove the silver coin.

• After cleaning the coins, rinse it correctly with distilled water.

• Check the difference you get to see in your Silver Coins.

These were some of the easy tips and techniques that you can easily try sitting at your home and get the glow of your silver coins. The processes mentioned above are tested and work best if done properly. This won't decrease the value of your silver coin.

So, without prior hesitation, try the methods today to get a lustrous silver coin in your house. No experts help is required and no investment is also needed. All the cleaning ingredients are easily available at your home.

Lemon acid method

In the lemon acid method, the coins are kept in lemon acid for some hours. Sometimes, the items are kept for almost 24 hours depending on the kind of oxidation layers formed in the surface. The next day the items are cleaned and dried with soft paper.

Sometimes, iron nails are added to the lemon acid to enhance chemicals reactions of the acid bath but if nails are used, it is advised not to keep the coins in the acid for more than half an hour.

How to clean corroded silver coins?

Mostly the corrosion forms into the silver coins by some natural elements, minerals, and chemicals as well. Scarring as well as pitting also occurs to the coins. It can ruin the entire exterior of your silver coins and become them valueless. There are several ways present to eliminate such a corrosion layer from silver coins. These include,

Using Baking Soda

• First, you need to apply water to moisten the silver coins properly.

• As the baking soda comes with harsh features, put that coins into baking soda.

• By using scrap or a toothbrush, scrub those silver coins safely.

• After that, you have to rinse those coins into soap and water.

• To rid of such corrosion completely from those silver coins, repeat it for few more times until the dirt goes away.

Using Acidic Substances

• Keep some acidic items like vinegar or lemon juice and pour that into a plastic pot. Such acidic particles are very beneficial in terms of removing corrosion form silver.

• Put that silver coins into the jar and close the lid.

• Shake the pot very well for a minimum of 5 minutes to reach the acidic the substance in all rifts of those silver coins.

• Leave those silver coins to stay overnight into that acid-containing pot.

• After the removal, clean those coins properly into the blend of detergent and water.

Using Olive or Mineral Oil

• Take a bowl or mug and pour some mineral or olive oil into it. As such oils come with trace minerals, it can efficiently rid of corrosion as well as dirt from those silver coins.

• Then keep those coins into the bowl and leave for absorbing properly.

• When the layer of corrosion becomes loosened and falls, take those coins away from that bowl. It takes a few weeks to happen.

• After that wash those silver coins in clean water and wipe properly using a soft cloth to remove oil.

• To prevent long-term damage, use some baking soda for neutralizing the oil minerals.

Using Acetone

• Take a container full of acetone which presents in nail-polish remover.

• Put those silver coins into that acetone container and wait for at least 5 minutes.

• By using soapy water, rinse those coins well to omit corrosion.

• After removal cleans the silver coins using baking soda for neutralizing and cleaning the rest acetone attached.

How to remove tarnish from silver coins?

Due to the presence of sulfur in many things around us, hence tarnish easily forms in silver coins. Instead of cleaning, there are two effective techniques are present to eliminate such tarnish from silver coins including, polishing and dipping. Through Polishing the Silver Coins Polishing is considered one of the key methods to remove tarnish from silver coins.

• Use a soft cloth for cleaning gently the silver coins.

• Make sure that you are not using any abrasive scouring pads along with alkaline liquid cleaner.

• Rubbing those coins only through soft straight strokes. Never try to rub in circular motions.

• Moreover, you can also use sanitizers or glass surface cleaner to polishing your silver coins.

• When the polishing is done, rinse properly and leave it to dry completely for an hour. Through Dipping the Silver Coins Dipping is another significant method to recover silver from the layer of tarnish.

• It also helps to restore your silver coins just like it was at the beginning. This technique is done by using aluminum foil along with sodium bicarbonate. You need to follow few steps to use this method which is given below.

• Take a container including aluminum foil.

• Apply one tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate into the boiling water and stir it well using a tong.

• After a few minutes later when all dissolved properly put the silver coins into that container.

• A reaction of chemical forms in which aluminum foils help to remove the tarnish from those silver coins. 10 seconds are enough to process this.

• After tarnish removal, take those out from that hot liquid container and rinse as well as dried properly.

Cleaning silver coins with toothpaste?

The use of toothpaste for cleaning silver coins is a very convenient and easy method. Brush the coins with a soft-bristled toothbrush or a paper towel. You just need to follow few steps which are mention below to using it in the right way

.

• Take a bowl that contains soap and water.

• Put the silver coins into the bowl.

• Use a soft-headed brush to rub those coins inside the soapy water solution.

• Until those coins get back to natural silvery appearance, don't stop brushing.

• After scrubbing is done correctly rinse those coins.

• Make sure that any loosen corrosion is not left to clean from those silver coins.

• If requires, repeat the entire process for one and more time

How to clean silver with coke?

Such fizzy drinks like Coke are renowned for their good quality of taste. But Coke can take an excellent place to clean silver effectively. It is a quite simple and useful technique for removing tarnish from the silver. The required steps to use this method that includes,

• Take 75% of coke which should be taken from a new bottle for getting proper fizz.

• Leave that vessel along with those silver inside for at least one hour.

• After that, take out those silver from that vessel and try to rub properly by using a cotton-based cloth.

• Coke has some strong acid component inside it. Thereby when a silver drop inside the coke chemical reactions occurs which help to eliminate such tarnish from silvers.

How do to clean coins safely?

With some simple and convenient steps, you can safely clean your silver coins. That includes,

• Unique coins should be handled carefully. Used only their edges to hold. Try to use lint-free cotton gloves before hold those coins.

• Always imply hot distilled water along with soap for soaking the coins. Turn them over in each hour. Due to the presence of chlorine in tap water, it may occur discoloration. So never use it.

• Used water should be replaced daily basis.

• Use a soft cloth or a paper towel to dry the coins.

• Don't rub the coins as it can be quite insecure and getting injuries. Apply a soft-bristled scrub for brushing gently as well as safely to your most precious coins.

• If such coins are not suitably cleaned and dirt or corrosion remains in the coins. Wet those coins again and pour them into a plastic container keep inserted for freezing well inside a freezer. As the water extends by freezing, it can release some more dirt.

• For eliminating extreme dirt or corrosion, soaking oil can't be useful enough. To rid of corrosion which generates through mineral oil, you must have to clean your coins by using such chemicals like acetone.

Nowadays, an ultrasonic cleaning machine is a best-recommended method to clean your coins significantly. By using rapid vibration, these machines can easily dislodge the dirt from your most valuable coins.

Small machines are ideal for safe home usage but it cannot eliminate hard corrosions or dirt particles. In that case, professional ultrasonic machines are needed.

Other methods used to clean Silver bars

The method like fluid acid can be used to clean the oxidation spots of silver bars or bullions. The items are then cleaned with warm vinegar, soft tissues, sour milk or raw potato cut. Rubbing these items can help to get rid of the oxidation layers.

Most experts will not advise using the method of scrubbing or using dips to eliminate the outer layer as it can cause a mild reduction in the overall weight of the item. But many such dips are highly powerful cleaners, which can get back the shine in seconds.

To keep safe and secure your most valuable silver coins cleaning is the most essential thing to do. Though tarnish or corrosion is very common to appear over time.

To recover or restore the silver coins from such dirt particles we have to goes through all those suggested steps above. Tarnish is also called the Toning of silver coins. Intact toning over silver coins enhances the value of each coin.

However eliminating such tarnish from silver coins can damage the surface of the coin; moreover, it more decreases the overall value of that coin. So maintaining proper safety is most important in terms of gentle finishing cleaning a silver coin.